NZPT Season 3 News

NZPT Queenstown: Schreiner Ships Snowfest

by Landon Blackhall on August 28, 2011

The 2011 PokerStars.net APPT Queenstown Snowfest Main Event has, without question, been one of our most favourite events to have reported on over the years and, judging by everyone we've spoken to, will no doubt become one of the most popular destinations in the Asia Pacific region, if not the world.

And while we're now packing our bags for the long flight home, lamenting that we cannot stay longer, there's plenty to take away from our experience here - the most important being that of Germany's Marcel Schreiner, the first international player in this region's history to win an APPT title on New Zealand soil.

Jonathan Karamalikis - 9th place

Right from the get-go, the railbirds in the SKYCITY Queenstown Casino were treated to some incredible action. Still, it took over an hour before 2010 APPT Sydney Main Event champion Jonathan Karamalikis got the last of his money into the middle, moving in before the flop with Q♠Q♥ but ran into the K♦K♣ of fellow Australian PokerStars Qualifier Daniel Laidlaw. The eight-high board improved neither hand and Karamalikis was eliminated in ninth place.

However, the big talking point of the first two hours of play was the incredible six-bet-shove attempt by Marcel Schreiner with 9♠8♠ against Matty Yates. Not an uncommon move as we've seen over the last few days, but the only problem was that Yates had woken up with K♥K♦, which improved to two pair after the dealer spread the board of 9♣J♦3♦J♠3♣, moving Yates past the million-chip mark and leaving Schreiner in a world of hurt.

Hugh Cohen - 8th place

Yates then took out Hugh Cohen in eighth place; the brother of the reigning Queenstown champion moved in pre-flop with A♥K♥ against Yates' A♦Q♦, but Cohen's chances of keeping the title in the family were shattered when Yates rivered two pair on the board of 7♦2♣2♠4♠Q♥ to bow out in eighth place.

Xiao Dong Xia - 7th place

Soon after, Kiwi Carl Knox delivered a 1-2 knock-out to China's Xiao Dong Xia, first crippling Xia after his 5♠5♣ held up against his A♦K♥, then taking him out in seventh place after his A♣Q♥ won the flip against Xia's 6♠6♦, hitting two pair on the 3♦Q♠3♥7♠9♦ board.

Tom Grigg - 6th place

Tom Grigg's third APPT final table appearance ended in similar fashion in sixth place; the 2010 APPT Auckland runner-up was first run down after Schreiner's A♥K♠ improved to a full house on the board of 8♠7♣A♠A♣K♥ against his Q♥Q♦. Despite a couple of small double-ups, he finally got it in with 8♦6♥, only to see Schreiner's J♣4♣ turn two pair after the dealer spread the board of J♥3♦2♦3♥T♥.

Daniel Laidlaw - 5th place

Daniel Laidlaw joined Grigg on the rail only 20 minutes later in fifth place, with the Australian PokerStars Qualifier risking his remaining chips with A♣Q♠, but again, it was Schreiner who won the flip with his 2♥2♣ when he improved to a set after the flop of 2♠J♠4♦, which held all the way as the turn and river bricked out 9♥, A♠.

Carl Knox - 4th place

The remaining four players went hammer-and-tongs for the next two levels, with New Zealand PokerStars Qualifier John Waterman scoring two crucial double-ups before dinner. Soon after play resumed though, it was Waterman that felted fellow Kiwi Carl Knox in fourth place. Knox got it in good with 7♠7♥, but Waterman's A♥Q♥ "Greensteined" him when the board was spread T♠5♣J♦2♣A♣.

John Waterman - 3rd place

From there, Waterman's hard work was brought undone in third place to set up the heads-up battle between Watts and Schreiner. Waterman moved the last of his chips in pre-flop holding K♠Q♦, but Schreiner had him covered every which way with 8♠8♣, which held on the board of 4♥A♦A♣J♥2♥.

Matty Yates - 2nd place

With only 180 hands played up until this point (and with such aggression), we were expecting a rather swift heads-up battle, despite the chip counts being practically even. How wrong we were. Yates and Schreiner made every pot, and every chip, count, with both players equally as determined to win the title - for Schreiner, it would mean the breakthrough victory he'd been wanting for so long - and for Yates, it would keep a clean sheet for Kiwis keeping APPT titles on home soil.

Unfortunately for Yates, he was vanquished in second place when the final hand of the night saw him move all-in with A♥9♠, only to see Schreiner snap him off with A♠Q♠, which struck gin on the flop of Q♥A♣A♦. And that, as they say, was that. Game over, man, game over.

Marcel Schreiner with the winner's trophy

The NZPT returns to Queenstown for Season 3

by PokerStars.net on 2011

After two successful seasons of the PokerStars.net New Zealand Poker Tour (NZPT), Season 3 is looking to break records. NZPT Queenstown will take place at SKYCITY Queenstown from August 22-28. The main event boasts a NZD$3,000 buy-in and will be capped at 210 players.

In previous seasons, NZPT Queenstown was known as more of a "boutique" event with a smaller field and buy-in, but this year the Queenstown stop promises to break the mould with more events, bigger prize pools and 'Off the Felt' activities planned for many of the players in attendance.

Queenstown is recognised as the adventure capital of the Southern Hemisphere, boasting world class snow fields and activities to satisfy even the most daring devil. From bungy jumping to jet boating to four-wheel driving, Queenstown has it all.

PokerStars.net is the headline sponsor of the NZPT. You can win a free package (main event seat, accommodation and travel expenses) to Queenstown by playing in one of many freeroll qualifiers. Go to the 'How to Qualify' page for more information.